The NFC East looked ready to spin out of control after Dallas fell to 1-2 last Sunday in Brazil. Then Philadelphia walked into Monday night with what should have been a manageable setup against the Bears, who were missing QB Caleb Williams, and instead laid an egg on both sides of the ball in an improbable 27-7 upset.
That result changed the temperature of the division immediately. If the Eagles had moved to 3-0, the Cowboys’ path would have looked a lot tighter.
Instead, Dallas is still just one game back, and the big picture suddenly looks a lot better than it did a few days ago. The Cowboys can’t keep wasting chances like the one they left on the table against the Ravens, but they at least got a major assist from Philadelphia’s stumble.
The standings after Week 3 reflect how unsettled this division still is:
- Philadelphia Eagles 2-1 (1-0)
- New York Giants 2-1 (1-0)
- Dallas Cowboys 1-2 (1-1)
- Washington Commanders 1-2 (0-2)
The Giants are still in the conversation, too. Harbaugh has left open the possibility of Dart being back for the playoffs, and if New York can keep itself afloat - whether with Winston or by turning to newly acquired J.J. McCarthy - there’s at least a path for them to matter late in the year.
Washington also forced its way into the mix with a huge upset over the Seahawks. Marcus Mariota just might be the best backup QB in the game, and Dan Quinn’s defense came up with some big plays in taking down the defending champs. Even so, this one felt more like Seattle overlooking the Commanders than Washington proving it belonged on a different level.
Week 4 gives Dallas a chance to keep the pressure on. The Cowboys face the 0-3 Texans, and on paper it looks like a gift.
But Houston will be fired up for an in-state rivalry game, and C.J. Stroud could still work over a Dallas secondary that is beginning to look more like a practice squad than a defense.
The good news for Dallas is that the rest of the division doesn’t have it easy either. Philadelphia hosts the Rams, a team that has started slowly but could wake up at any moment. If Case Keenum can light up the Eagles’ defense, then Matt Stafford could be a real problem this Sunday.
New York gets the Cardinals, another team that has been all over the place. Arizona dropped to 1-2 after a tight 36-30 division game with the undefeated 49ers, and they look like a much tougher out than Tennessee, who the Giants only barely got past. That one feels very much up for grabs.
Washington, meanwhile, will try to ride the momentum at home against the Colts. Indianapolis comes in at 1-2 and won’t be treating this like Seattle did. It should be a hard-fought game between two teams trying to get back to .500 and avoid sliding into a lost season.
And there’s even a .
In Other News...
Cowboys Still Have A Real NFC East Opening After Philly Slip
The Cowboys are sitting at 1-2 after a tight loss to the Ravens, but the bigger picture in the NFC East looks a lot less settled than it did a week ago. Philadelphias ugly setback against the Bears only added to a three-game stretch that has featured real issues on both sides of the ball, which changes the feel of the division race even this early.
Dallas still has work to do to climb out of its own hole, but the opening is there if it can stabilize quickly. With the Eagles not playing like a runaway favorite, the Cowboys can still put themselves back in the conversation, and that alone keeps the coming weeks from feeling like a must-keep-up exercise rather than a lost cause. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Ferguson Puts Cowboys Frustration Back In Focus After Costly Mistake
The Cowboys overtime loss to Baltimore in Week 3 left plenty to sort through, but Jake Fergusons third-quarter fumble quickly became one of the defining plays. On a shovel pass near the Ravens 23-yard line, the tight end put the ball on the ground and a promising drive vanished, a swing that analytics put at a negative EPA of -5.62 according to Dyllan Rivers. For a team trying to clean up details in a tight season, it was the sort of mistake that can linger long after the final whistle.
Ferguson has had more than one ball-security lapse in recent seasons, and the issue has already drawn attention from Brian Schottenheimer, who has framed it as a fundamentals problem. That makes this latest turnover more than just a bad break in one game. It puts the spotlight back on whether the Cowboys can trust one of their most important pass catchers to be sharper in the moments that matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Face A Joey Porter Jr. Trade Decision
The Cowboys have reportedly kicked the tires on a potential move for Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., adding another layer to a secondary conversation that already feels worth monitoring in Dallas. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reported the inquiry, and while there has been no movement so far, it is another sign the Cowboys are at least exploring help at a position that can shape the whole defense.
For now, the price appears to be the sticking point. Dallas is not yet ready to part with significant draft capital for Porter, who has spent three seasons in Pittsburgh and has shown the kind of ball production teams look for with three interceptions and 31 passes defended. Whether the talks gain traction will likely come down to how far the Cowboys are willing to push, and how motivated the Steelers are to listen. [Read more 🡒]